David Hasselhoff has left America's Got Talent amid reports about his "drunken
behaviour".

The former Baywatch star has been a judge on the show for the past four years.

In a statement, the 57-year-old said he was leaving to make his own TV show.

"I am proud that I was part of making America's Got Talent the number one rated show for the past four summers. It's been a rewarding experience and now I'm thrilled to be able to follow my dream to do my own TV show, which will be announced very shortly," he said.

He thanked Simon Cowell, executive producer of America's Got Talent, for "the opportunity for four great years".

Sources said TV chiefs wanted the star to leave because stories of his bizarre behaviour in recent months had made his position "untenable."

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An insider told The Sun: "This has built up for some time. David has been in the papers a lot for his drunken behaviour and he doesn't seem to want to clean up his act."

In October, Hasselhoff was reportedly admitted to rehab. A month later, he made a shambolic appearance at the MTV Europe Music Awards, in which he slurred his speech and broke into song.

At the end of November, he was forced to deny reports that he had been placed under "involuntary psychiatric hold" in hospital.

The actor is a recovering alcoholic. In 2007, a video of him lying drunk on the floor and trying to eat a hamburger was posted online. It was shot by his daughter, who was heard pleading with him to give up alcohol, and Hasselhoff later admitted he had relapsed.

NBC are now looking to replace Hasselhoff with another judge, who will join Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne. A spokesman said: "David has been an integral part of the success of America's Got Talent and we are sad to see him go. We wish him all the best with his new show."